Schloss Schönbusch

About the museum

From 1775 onward, the Schönbusch park took shape southwest of Aschaffenburg as the second residence of the Electoral Archbishop of Mainz, Friedrich Karl von Erthal. Following the ideas of his minister Wilhelm von Sickingen, the former game park was turned into one of the first gardens in southern Germany in the new English landscape style. Court architect Emanuel Joseph von Herigoyen designed the buildings; around 1785, the garden artist Friedrich Ludwig Sckell, brought in from Schwetzingen, gave the park its classic form.

The neoclassical garden palace was built between 1778 and 1782 and stands in direct line of sight with the Johannisburg city palace. Its ten state rooms are furnished with Louis XVI-style furniture and show princely living culture at the end of the 18th century. The stucco rooms have wall hangings made after remnants of the original fabric from around 1780.

Within the park, set into the landscape views as scenic backdrops, are further structures such as the Red Bridge, the Philosophers' House, the Temple of Friendship, the Shepherds' Houses, an artificial village, and artificially raised "mountains" with a lookout tower and the Devil's Bridge. In the former kitchen building, a visitor center with a garden exhibition explains the history of the site, its later use, and today's garden conservation. The Bavarian Palace Administration looks after the palace and park.

Highlights

• Neoclassical garden palace from 1778–1782 with ten state rooms
• Furniture in the Louis XVI style
• Early English landscape garden with park buildings (Temple of Friendship, Philosophers' House, Red Bridge)
• Garden exhibition "Alles scheint Natur" in the visitor center
• Restaurant, bistro, and beer garden in the park

Permanent exhibitions

• Schauräume im Gartenschloss – Guided tour through ten stucco-decorated rooms with original Louis XVI-style furniture, showing princely living culture of the late 18th century.
• Alles scheint Natur – The garden exhibition in the visitor center uses models, including a large park model, to explain how the landscape garden came into being and how it is conserved today.

Operated by

Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen (Schloss- und Gartenverwaltung Aschaffenburg)

Admission & discounts

Prices 2026. At the ticket desk in Schloss Schönbusch, only cash payment is possible.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: not available
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The palace entrance is reachable only via six steps, and the upper floor only by stairs. The garden exhibition in the visitor center is reached via one step (approx. 15 cm); if needed, staff will set up a portable ramp. Two accessible parking spaces at the "Kleine Schönbuschallee" car park; from there it is about 850 m to the palace, with gentle gradients. Accessible toilet near the beer garden (Euro key). With a few exceptions, the park paths are easy to navigate (mostly paved gravel); the viewpoint hill and the railway crossing are reachable only via steep paths and steps. Park buildings can be viewed only from the outside. No tactile guidance system, no induction loop; written information is available.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Playground / play area

During the summer months, Park Schönbusch offers tours and activities for children, young people, and families. The garden exhibition has its own area that invites children to play.

Getting there & parking

Schönbusch lies about 4 km west of Aschaffenburg's city center (A 3 between Würzburg and Frankfurt).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

Restaurant and bistro "Kulinarischer Schönbusch" with sun terrace (daily from 09:00, tel. 06021 448560), plus a self-service beer garden in good weather. Dogs are not allowed inside the buildings; in the park they must be kept on a leash.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 134 guests.

Available for hire: the banquet hall (concerts and lectures for up to 134 people), the dance hall (seated meals for up to 60 people), and the orangery (exhibitions, small concerts, and lectures for up to 75 people).

Plan your visit